Jamey Carroll is back at Coors Field and he’s wearing No. 7 for the Cleveland Indians and starting at second base tonight.

From 2006-07, Carroll was one of the Rockies’ most popular players, with his teammates and with fans. Before tonight’s game, he’ll be given his NL championship ring and a round of hugs from the Rockies.

Should be a nice moment.

FYI: Carroll was my wife’s favorite Rockie. She loved the way he played the game and she like his looks. Nancy calls him “Ray Liotta” eyes, after the blue-eyed actor. My wife definitely brings a different perspective to the game.

When people find out I’m a sports writer, the question I’m asked most often has nothing to do with strategy, trades or statistics. Rather, the question goes something like this: “What’s so and so really like? Is he really a good guy?”
Their questions almost sound like a plea. In this day and age of huge money and egomaniacs, fans need to know that there are some decent people out there.
Which brings me to Jamey Carroll.
Rest assured he’s the real deal. He is a true gentleman and a wonderful baseball player. There was not a single Rockies player more fundamentally sound than Carroll. He plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played. And he plays with a little boy’s joy.
When I talked to Carroll Friday night, shortly after he was traded to Cleveland, the first thing he told me was that he didn’t force a trade. He wanted that made clear. Then he said his time in Colorado and the run to the World Series was almost indescribable. He loved his teammates, he loved the fans. He even liked the media.
But Carroll wants to play baseball. That’s why he’ll suit up for the Indians next season. The team and the city will discover, as I did, that Carroll is one of good guys.
Good luck, Jamey.

Nashville, Tenn. – The winter meetings’ version of the closing scene – the Rule V draft – closed without the Rockies peeking their head out of the curtain for headlines. But they haven’t staged their final act. Read more…

Nashville — The Rockies became open to the idea of giving reliever LaTroy Hawkins a two-year deal on Tuesday night. Hawkins wants to return to Colorado, but not at a paycut. He has drawn interest from the Rangers, who have offered a one-year deal with an option.

Hawkins struggled in April, but after returning from a forem injury, helped stabilize the Rockies’ bullpen over the final five months. His velocity jumped in the playoffs, reaching 98 miles per hour, and he served as one of the leaders in a tight clubhouse. With the return of Matt Herges, the Rockies want another veteran pitcher to share a setup role in the seventh and eighth innings as a bridge to setup man Brian Fuentes and closer Manny Corpas.

If the Rockies are unsuccessful in re-signing Hawkins, Shawn Chacon’s situation bears watching closely. Chacon is comfortable working as a reliever for the Rockies and his agent continues to talk to the Rockies about the right-hander.

Going Fishing for Carroll?
The shipping of Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers could open up a potential trade avenue to move Jamey Carroll to the Marlins. There are many in the Marlins’ organization who like Carroll. He could man second base if Dan Uggla is shifted to third. There’s nothing percolating yet, but it represents a possibility as the Rockies try to clear their second-base logjam.

Philadelphia – Mark Redman made his biggest impact in Philadelphia, pitching five scoreless innings in relief on Sept. 11. That performance helped create the one wrinkle in the Rockies’ postseason roster. The Rockies are carrying 12 pitchers, with Redman replacing struggling reliever Jorge Julio among the regulars in the bullpen.

Redman provides insurance in case one of the starters’ struggles early, a a precaution worth addressing since rookies Franklin Morales and Ubaldo Jimenez will take the ball in Games 1 and 2. As it stands, Josh Fogg would be the Game 4 starter.

As expected, outfielder Seth Smith, who has five of the Rockies’ last six pinch-hits, was included on the bench. He’s joined by Cory Sullivan, Jeff Baker, Jamey Carroll and Chris Iannetta.

Julio was a key figure for the bullpen during the season, but had struggled of late. He gave Scott Hairston’s two-run home run in the 13th inning on Monday. And the fact that he was the last reliever used indicated manager Clint Hurdle’s lack of trust.

The Phillies’ lineup has been posted, but the Rockies is still pending.

The Rockies, facing a must-win situation, will role out a familiar lineup, save for Omar Quintanilla at second base. He’s starting because manager Clint Hurdle feels he’s a better option against a right-hander right now than Jamey Carroll. Kazuo Matsui is making slight improvement and is available in an emergency situation. If all goes well, he should play before this series ends on Thursday. Read more…

There’s no mystery to the Rockies’ recent fall from grace. Their pitching has been awful. In three straight losses – the first time that’s happened since late June – the staff’s ERA is a combined 9.00, with opponents hitting .312. The 29 runs allowed by the Rockies in the three games is the most the club has allowed in any three-game span all season.
And definitive word came down today that Aaron Cook is out for the season, even if the Rockies somehow make the postseason. Colorado’s opening-day starter was moved from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day list, officially ending his season. Taking his place on the roster is minor league outfielder Seth Smith. He’s available for today’s game. Smith, who turns 25 on Sept. 30, is awaiting his major league debut. The left-handed batter spent the entire season with Triple-A Colorado Springs, batting .317 with 17 home runs, 32 doubles, 6 triples, and 82 RBIs in 129 games.

Mark Redman went from a left-handed complement to a key component. Redman, with five scoreless innings last night, earned a Tuesday start in the second game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers at Coors Field.Read more…

If it’s Monday that means there must be a new player for the Rockies. Colorado brought Triple-A slugger Seth Smith on the trip. He’s rehabbing a dislocated shoulder with the possibility he could be activated during this series. Smith’s arrival is connected to Willy Taveras’ absence. Taveras is likely gone for the season. Read more…

With centerfielder Willy Taveras likely out for the season after re-injuring his right quadriceps Saturday night, Ryan Spillborghs will get the bulk of the starts as the beat-up Rockies try to stay in the playoff chase. Spilborghs has just three hits in his last 29 at-bats, his average plunging from .322 to .291. Over the last 23 games he’s hitting just .125 (3-for-24) with runners in scoring position.
Spilborghs insists he hasn’t lost his swing or his confidence. True or not, the Rockies need him to get hot, starting today against San Diego’s Chris Young.

There’s no disputing that Brad Hawpe, despite his healthy production (23 homers, 86 RBIs), has become a platoon player. He sits against left-handers. But tonight, his glove kept his bat in the lineup. Manager Clint Hurdle said he thought it would be unfair to ask someone else to play right field at AT&T Park. It can be tricky. Think back to Ichiro’s inside-the-park home run if you have questions. Read more…

Much has been made of the shortcomings of the Rockies’ starting rotation, but their offense hasn’t been too hot lately, either. Wednesday night marked the seventh time in the last 13 games the Rockies scored three runs or less. They are 1-6 in those seven games.

Rockies starter Rodrigo Lopez had his right arm rebuilt Wednesday. He had both ligament transplant surgery (aka Tommy John surgery) and flexor tendon repair to his right elbow. Lopez, of course, is out for the season.

Right-hander Greg Reynolds, the second overall selection in the 2006 June draft who was pitching for Double-A Tulsa, is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Friday at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver.

Super-utilityman Jamey Carroll makes his first career start in right field today. He replaces Brad Hawpe as Hawpe continues struggling against left-handed pitchers. Southpaw Paul Maholm is on the hill for the Pirates this afternoon.

By the numbers: Matt Holliday enters today’s game with a 12-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the majors. He has four hitting streaks of 10 games or longer this season, more than any other player.

If Rockies relievers are ordering extra ice for their tired arms, there’s a good reason. With starters making quick exits – Josh Fogg gave up eight runs and 11 hits in just three innings Wednesday night – the bullpen has needed a revolving door. In the past nine games (including a 14-inning game in Los Angeles and an 11-inning game Monday night at Coors Field), starters have thrown 46 2/3 innings, posting a 1-3 record and a 6.37 ERA. Relievers have tossed 37 1/3 innings with a 2-3 record and a 3.38 ERA.Read more…

Jamey Carroll, the Rockies’ resident handyman, starts at third base tonight, while Garrett Atkins starts at first in place of Todd Helton. Monday night, Carroll played right field for the first time in his career, entering the game late and replacing Brad Hawpe.
“That was a little bit intimidating, only because I’d never played right before,” Carroll said. “But I’m used to my utility role. I’ve been doing it for five years now.”
So far this season, Carroll has started at second, short and third, played in right field, gone 3-for-8 as a pinch hitter and be frequently used as a pinch runner.

By the numbers: Matt Holliday leads the majors with 43 doubles, just two shy of matching his career high 45 set last season. Holliday is on pace for 55 doubles, which would be the most by any major leaguer since Garrett Anderson and Nomar Garciaparra both his 56 in 2002.

With key players dragging, and with a sluggish offense in need of a jumpstart, the Rockies trot out a new-look lineup for Game 2 of a four-game series against the Pirates. Rookie Ian Stewart starts in place of Garrett Atkins at third base. Atkins has played poorly in the field for the past week and manager Clint Hurdle wants him to rest his weary legs. Same goes for Kazuo Matsui, who’ll watch while Jamey Carroll starts at second tonight.

By the numbers: Rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has already hit 16 go-ahead RBIs this season, including a solo homer in the seventh inning Monday night that gave the Rockies a short-lived 2-1 lead. Nine of his 16 home runs this season have either tied the game or given the Rockies the lead. Tulowitzki is closing in on the Rockies record for most go-ahead RBIs by a rookie. The record is held by Todd Helton who had 19 in 1998.

The mystery, or what was left of it, came to an end today when manager Clint Hurdle confirmed that Franklin Morales will start tomorrow. Given the Dodgers’ lack of hitting and their pitcher-friendly stadium, there are few better places for a kid to break in. Read more…

The Rockies trot out an interesting lineup tonight against struggling Milwaukee lefty Chris Capuano.
A rejuvenated Jamey Carroll plays second and leads off. Regular second baseman Kazup Matsui has climbed out of his recent slump, but the switch hitter still struggles against lefties, so he sits tonight.
Batting second is shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Red-hot Ryan Spilborghs starts in center in place of Willy Taveras and bats sixth. Catcher Edwin Bellorin, making his major league debut, bats eighth.
Manager Clint Hurdle hopes batting Tulowitzki in the No. 2 spot will get the rookie out of his funk. “Tulo” is hitting just .215 since the all-star break.
With Hawpe still struggling mightily against lefties (.183), it makes sense to drop him to seventh tonight and bat Spilborghs sixth.
The reason to start Bellorin is threefold. One, Hurdle doesn’t want the 25-year-old rookie sitting around getting anxious after getting called up from Triple-A on Monday. Two, Bellorin caught all three of starter Jason Hirsh’s rehab games with Colorado Springs. Three, starting catcher Yorvit Torrealba could use a breather and Hurdle wants Torrealba available for Wednesday’s day game.

The Rockies have been lighting up Coors Field and should do the same tonight. The Brewers have lost 13 consecutive games started by Capuano, the Brewers’ longest losing streak ever, in one season, for one starter. Capuano is 0-8 with a 6.27 ERA in those 13 starts.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.